Pyrazoloazoleazomethine dyes

ABSTRACT

A pyrazoloazoleazomethine dye represented by formula (I) ##STR1## wherein, R 1  represents a substituent having a Hammett&#39;s substituent constant value of at least 0.6; Za, Zb, and Zc each represents ═CH--, ##STR2## (wherein R 2  represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent), or ═N--; when Zc=Zb is a carbon-carbon double bond, it may form a part of an aromatic ring; R 3 , R 4 , and R 5  each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; and n represents 1 or 2; said dye may form a dimer or higher polymer by combining with each other or to a polymer through a divalent or higher valent group at R 1 , Za, Zb, or Zc.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to novel pyrazoloazoleazomethine dyes, and more particularly to novel pyrazoloazoleazomethine dyes having improved hue and molecular extinction coefficient.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Known pyrazoloazoleazomethine dyes include various dyes obtained by the coupling reaction of 1H-pyrazolo[1,5-a]benzimidazoles disclosed, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 3,061,432, 1H-pyrazolo[1,5-c]-1,2,4-triazoles disclosed, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 3,725,067, 1H-imidazo[1,2-b]pyrazoles disclosed, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,630, 1H-pyrazolo[1,5-b]-1,2,4-triazoles disclosed, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,540,654, 1H-pyrazolo[1,5-d]tetrazoles disclosed, e.g., in Japanese patent application (OPI) No. 33552/85 (the term "OPI" as used herein means an "unexamined published patent application"), or 1H-pyrazolo[1,5-b]pyrazoles disclosed, e.g., in Japanese patent application (OPI) No. 43659/85 with the oxidation product of an aromatic primary amine color developing agent for photography in the existence of an alkali.

It it disclosed in the above described patents and Japanese patent application (OPI) No. 186567/85 that pyrazolotriazoleazomethine dyes can be utilized as, in particular, image-forming magenta dyes for silver halide color photographic materials by utilizing the above-described coupling reaction.

While pyrazoloneazomethine dyes which are utilized as magenta dyes for conventional silver halide color photographic materials have, in addition to main absorptions, harmful side absorptions at the shorter wavelength side of the main absorptions, the above-described pyrazoloazoleazomethine dyes have less side absorptions and hence give clearer hue as compared to the pyrazoloneazomethine dyes.

Also, some pyrazoloazoleazomethine dyes, e.g., pyrazolo[5,1-c]-1,2,4-triazoleazomethine dyes disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,725,067, pyrazolo[1,5-b]-1,2,4-triazoleazomethine dyes disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,540,654, and pyrazolo[1,5-d]tetrazoleazomethine dyes disclosed in Japanese patent application (OPI) No. 33552/85 give sharp visible absorption spectra as compared to conventional pyrazoloneazomethine dyes, and hence give clearer hue as well as lower side absorption described above.

However, with recent requirements for further improving the image qualtiy of silver halide color photographic materials, dyes which can give sharper absorption spectra and have clearer hue than the above-described pyrazoloazoleazomethine dyes have been desired.

Also, the molecular extinction coefficient of the pyrazoloazoleazomethine dyes described above is at most 6×10⁴ l.mol⁻¹.cm⁻¹, and hence dyes having a higher molecular extinction coefficient have been desired.

Dyes having a higher molecular extinction coefficient can give a desired optical density with a less amount thereof, and hence when these dyes are utilized as, for example, dyes for forming color images of silver halide color photographic material, the thickness of emulsion layer(s) of the color photographic material can be greatly reduced, to thus reduce the cost for the silver halide in such photographic materials, and furthermore, such silver halide photographic materials provide images having improved sharpness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of this invention is, therefore, to provide novel pyrazoloazoleazomethine dyes having sharp visible absorption spectra and clear color.

A second object of this invention is to provide novel pyrazoloazoleazomethine dyes having a high molecular extinction coefficient and providing a desired optical density with less amount thereof.

A third object of the invention is to provide novel pyrazoloazoleazomethine dyes having absorption at a longer wavelength region.

As a result of various investigations for obtaining pyrazoloazoleazomethine dyes capable of attaining the above-described objects, the inventors have discovered that when a specific strong electron attractive group is introduced into a substituent of the pyrazoloazole skeleton of a pyrazoloazoleazomethine dye, the visible abosption spectrum of the dye becomes sharper and the dye provides a clearer hue as well as the molecular extinction coefficient of the dye reached as high as 9×10⁴ l.mol⁻¹.cm⁻¹, and that when a specifically strong electron attractive group is introduced into the pyrazoloazole skeleton of the dye, the maximum absorption wavelength of the absorption spectrum of the dye is greatly shifted to deep color side and dye becomes a blue or cyan dye having the maximum absorption wavelength of over 600 nm by suitably selecting the pyrazoloazole skeleton and the specifically strong electron attractive group, while a conventional pyrazoloazoleazomethine dye is a red, magenta, or purple dye having the maximum absorption wavelength at the region of from about 520 to about 570 nm, and have succeeded in accomplishing the present invention.

That is, the invention provides a pyrazoloazoleazomethhine dye represented by formula (I) ##STR3## wherein R₁ represents a substituent having a Hammett's substituent constannt σ_(p) value of at least 0.6, preferably from 0.6 to 2.0, most preferably from 0.6 to 1.0; Za, Zb, and Zc PG,7 each represents ═CH--, ##STR4## (wherein R₂ represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent), or ═N--; when Zc═Zb forms a carbon-carbon double bond, it may form a part of an aromatic ring; R₃, R₄, and R₅ each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; and n represents a number of R₅ and it represents 1 or 2; said dye may form a dimer (including a biscompound) or higher polymer at R₁, Za, Zb, or Zc through a divalent or higher valent group by combining with each other or to a polymer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graph showing visible absorption spectra of the pyrazoloazoleazomethine dye of this invention is Example 2 and a comparison pyrazoloazoleazomethine dye in Example 2, and

FIG. 2 is a graph showing visible absorption spectra of the pyrazoloazoleazomethine dye and cyan dyes formed from comparison phenolic cyan couplers in Example 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Detailed descriptions with respect to R₁, R₃, R₄ and R₅ can be seen in the descriptions for corresponding groups in formula (II) to (VII).

The pyrazoloazoleazomethine dyes of this invention represented by formula (I) described above are preferably pyrazoloazoleazomethine dyes represented by formula (II), (III), (IV), (V), (VI), or (VII). ##STR5##

In formulae (II) to (VII), G is a structural moiety derived from an aromatic primary amine and is by formula (VIII) ##STR6##

wherein R₃, R₄, R₅, and n have the same meanings as defined above for forumla (I); and R₃ and R₄ each preferably represents a hdyrogenn atom or an alkyl group and R₅ preferably represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or an alkyl group. When R₅ is a halogen atom or an alkyl group it is preferable that R₅ and ##STR7## are at the o- and p- position, respectively, of the benzene ring from the point of view of the abosrbance and hue of the dye.

In formulae (II) to (VII), R₁ has the same meanings as defined above for formula (I), and R₆, R₇, R₈, R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, and R₁₂ each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent. The compound represented by formula (VII) may have plural groups represented by R₁₂.

The pyrazoloazoleazomethine dyes of this invention are more preferably the pyrazoloazoleazomethine dyes shown by formula (IV), (V), or (VI), and further preferably those shown by formula (IV) described above.

Examples of groups shown by R₆, R₇, R₈, R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, and R₁₂ in formulae (II) to (VII) described above include a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, a cyano group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an acylamino group, an anilino group, a ureido group, a sulfamoylamino group, an alkylthio group, an arylthio group, an alkoxycarbonylamino group, a aulfonamido group, a carbamoyl group, a sulfamoyl group, a sulfonyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a heterocyclic oxy group, an acyloxy group, a carbamoyloxy group, a silyloxy group, an aryloxycarbonylamino group, an imido group, a heterocyclic thio group, a sulfinyl group, a phosphonyl group, an aryloxycarbonyl group, an acyl group, etc.

More specifically, examples of R₆, R₇, R₈, R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, and R₁₂ are a hydrogen atom a halogen atom (e.g., a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, etc.,) a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group preferably having 1 to 32 carbon atoms (e.g., a straight chain or branched alkyl group, an aralkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, a cycloalkyl group, and a cycloalkenyl group, each of which may be substituted by a substituent which is connected thereto through an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom, or a carbonyl group), a hydroxy group, an amino group, a nitro group, a carboxy group, a cyano group, or a halogen atom; and examples of these alkyl groups are a methyl group, a propyl group, a t-tubyl group, a trifluoromethyl group, a tridecyl group, a 2-methanesulfonylethyl group, a 3-(3-pentadecylphenoxy) propyl group, a 3-{4-{2-[4-(4-hydroxyphenylsulfonyl) phenoxyl]dodecaneamido}phenyl}propyl group, a 2-ethoxytridecyl group, a trifluoromethyl group, a cyclopentyl group, a 3-(2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy)-propyl group, etc.), an aryl group (e.g., a phenyl group, a 4-t-butylphenyl group, a 2,4-di-t-amylphenyl group, a 4-tetradecaneamidophenyl group, etc.), a heterocyclic group (e.g., a 5- to 7- membered heterocyclic ring having at least one of N, O and S atoms, such as a 2-furyl group, a 2-thienyl group, a 2-pyrimidinyl group, a 2-benzothiazolyl group, etc.), a cyano group, an alkoxy group (e.g., a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, a 2-methoxyethoxy group, a 2-dodecylethoxy group, a 2-methanesulfonylethoxy group, etc.), an aryloxy group (e.g., a phenoxy group, a 2-methylphenoxy group, a 4-t--butylphenoxy group, etc.), an acylamino group (e.g., an acetamido group, a benzamido group, a tetradecaneamido group, an α-(2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy)butylamido group, a γ-(3-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenoxy)butylamido group, an α-{4-(4-hydroxyphenylsulfonyl)phenoxy}decaneamido group, etc.), an anilino group (e.g., a phenylamino group, a 2-chloroanilino group, a 2-chloro-5-tetradecaneamidoanilino group, a 2-chloro-5-dodecyloxycarbonylanilino group, an N-acetyl-anilino group, a 2-chloro-5-{α-(3-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenoxy)dodecaneamido}anilino group, etc.), a ureido group (e.g., a phenylureido group, a methylureido group, an N,N-dibutylureido group, etc.), a sulfamoylamino group (e.g., an N,N-dipropylsulfamoylamino group, an N-methyl-N-decylsulfamoylamino group, etc.), an alkylthio group (e.g., a methylthio group, an octylthio group, a tetradecylthio group, a 2-phenoxyethylthio group, a 3-phenoxypropylthio group, a 3-(4-t-butylphenoxy) propylthio group, etc.), an arylthio group (e.g., a phenylthio group, a 2-butoxy-5-t-octylphenylthio group, a 3-pentadecylphenylthio group, a 2-carboxyphenylthio group, a 4-tetradecaneamidophenylthio group, etc.), an alkoxycarbonylamino group (e.g., a methoxycarbonylamino group, a tetradecycloxycarbonylamino group, etc.), a sulfonamido group (e.g., a methanesulfonamido group, a hexadecanesulfonamido group, a benzenesulfonamido group, a p-toluenesulfonamido group, an octadecanesulfonamido group, a 2-methyloxy-5-t-butylbenzenesulfonamido group, etc.), a carbamoyl group (e.g., an N-ethylcarbamoyl group, an N,N-dibutylcarbamoyl group, an N-(2-dodecyloxyethyl)carbamoyl group, an N-methyl-N-dodecylcarbamoyl group, an N-{3-(2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy)propyl}carbamoyl group, etc.), a sulfamoyl group (e.g., an N-ethylsulfamoyl group, an N,N-dipropylsulfamoyl group, an N-(2-dodecyloxyethyl) sulfamoyl group, an N-ethyl-N-dodecylsulfamoyl group, an N, N-diethylsulfamoyl group, etc.), a sulfonyl group (e.g., a methanesulfonyl group, an octanesulfonyl group, a benzenesulfonyl group, a toluenesulfonyl group, etc.), an alkoxycarbonyl group (e.g., a methoxycarbonyl group, a butyloxycarbonyl group, a dodecyloxycabonyl group, an octadecyloxycarbonyl group, etc.), a heterocyclic oxy group (wherein the heterocyclic group preferably is a 5- to 7- membered heterocyclic ring having at least one of N, O and S atoms, such as a 1-phenyltetrazole-5-oxy group, a 2-tetrahydropyranyloxy group, etc.), an acyloxy group (e.g., an acetoxy group, etc.), an acylaminoxy group (e.g., an acetylaminoxy group, a benzoylaminoxy group, etc.), a silyloxy group (e.g., a trimethylsilyloxy group, a dibutylmethylsilyloxy group, etc.), an aryloxycarbonylamino group (e.g., a phenoxycarbonylamino group, etc.), an imido group (e.g., an N-succinimido group, an N-phthalimido group, a 3-octadecenylsuccinimido group, etc.), a heterocyclic thio group (wherein the heterocyclic group preferably is a 5- to 7 - membered heterocyclic ring having at least one of N, O and S atoms, such as a 2-benzothiazolylthio group, a 2,4-di-phenoxy-1,3,5-triazole-6-thio group, a 2-pyridylthio group, etc.), a sulfinyl group (e.g., a dodecanesulfinyl group, a 3-pentadecylphenylsulfinyl group, a 3-phenoxypropylthio group, etc.), a phosphonyl group (e.g., a phenoxyphosphonyl group, an octyloxyphosphonyl group, a phenyl phosphonyl group), an aryloxycarbonyl group (e.g., a phenoxycarbonyl group, etc.), an acyl group (e.g., an acetyl group, a 3-phenylpropanoyl group, a benzoyl group, a 4-dodecyloxybenzoyl group, etc.), etc.

In addition, when R₁, R₆, R₇, R₈, R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, and R₁₂ in formulae (II) to (VII) described above and R₃, R₄, and R₅ in formula (VIII) described above are an alkyl group or an alkyl-containing group (e.g., an alkoxy group, an alkylthio group, an alkoxycarbamoyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, etc.), the carbon atom number of the alkyl group is usually from 1 to 50, and preferably from 1 to 40, and more preferably from 1 to 32, and when these groups an acyl group, the carbon atom number thereof is same as above.

Particular examples of groups having a Hammett's substituent constant o_(p) value of at least 0.6 are a cyano group, a nitro group, a trialkylammonium group (e.g., a trimethylammonium group, a triethylammonium group, a tributylammonium group, a triotylammonium group, a tridecylammonium group, etc.), a triarylammonium group (e.g., a triphenylammonium group, a tritolylammonium group, etc.), a dialkylsulfonium group (e.g., a dimethylsulfonium group, a diethylsulfonium group, etc.), a diarylsulfonium group (e.g., a diphenylsulfonium group, etc.), a perfluoroalkylsulfinyl group (e.g., a trifluoromethylsulfinyl group, a pentifluoroethylsulfinyl group, a heptafluoropropylsulfinyl group, a perfluorooctylsulfinyl group, etc.), an ω-hydroperfluoroalkylsulfinyl group (e.g., an ω-hydroperfluorooctyl-sulfinyl group, an ω-hydroperfluorododecylsulfinyl group, etc.), an alkanesulfonyl group (e.g., methanesulfonyl group, difluoromethanesulfonyl group, a trifluoromethanesulfonyl group, a dichloromethanesulfonyl group, an ethanesulfonyl group, a propanesulfonyl group, an octanesulfonyl group, a decanesulfonyl group, a pentafluoroethanesulfonyl group, a heptafluoropropanesulfonyl group, a perfluorooctanesulfonyl group, an ω-hydroperfluorooctanesulfonyl group, etc.), an arylsulfonyl group (e.g., a phenylsulfonyl group, a tolysulfonyl, group, a pentafluorophenylsulfonyl group, etc.), a β-carboxyvinyl group, a β,β-dicyanovinyl group, etc. These groups may be those represented by R₁, R₆, R₇, R₈, R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, and R₁₂.

These examples are further described, for example, in C. Hanach et al., Substituent Constants For Correlation Analysis in Chemistry and Biology, John Wiley & Sons, N.Y. (1979), C. Hansch et al., Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, Vol. 16, pp. 1207-1216 (1973), C. Hansch et al., ibid, Vol. 20, pp. 304-306 (1977), etc.

However, it is not unusual that different values are reported by different reporters for the same substituent, and in that case it is preferred to use values described in the last two references (both, C. Hansch et al) listed above. Further with respect to substituents which are not discribed in the above references, measurement can be performed in accordance with the definition described in L. P. Hammett, Physical Organic Chemistry, (McGraw-Hill, 1970).

Furthermore, R₁, R₆, R₇, R₈, R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, or R₁₂ in formulae (II) to (VII) can be, divalent group forming a bis-compound. Examples of such a divalent group are a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group (the alkylene group includes group having at least one oxygene atom in the hydrocarbon chain; e.g., a methylene group, an ethylene group, a 1,10-decylene group, --CH₂ CH₂ --O--CH₂ CH₂ --, etc.), a substitued or unsubstituted phenylene group (e.g., a 1,4-phenylene group, a 1,3-phenylene group, ##STR8## etc.), --NHCO--L₁ --CONH (wherein L₁ represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene or phenylene group, e.g., --NHCOCH₂ CH₂ CONH--, ##STR9## etc.), --S--L₂ --S-- group (Wherein L₂ represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group, e.g., --S--CH₂ CH₂ --S--, ##STR10## etc.), etc.

The pyrazoloazoleazomethine dye of this invention represented by formula (II) to (VII) described above may be a polymer bonded to a polymer main chain through R₁, R₆, R₇, R₈, R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, or R₁₂ as a divalent linkage group.

Such a divalent linkage group includes a group formed by combining the groups selected from an alkylene group (substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group, such as a methylene group, an ethylene group, a 1,10-decylene group, --CH₂ CH₂ OCH₂ CH₂ --, etc.), a phenylene group (substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group, such as a 1,4-phenylene group, a 1,3-phenylene group, ##STR11## etc.), --NHCO--, --COHN--, --O--, --OCO--, and aralkylene group (e.g.) ##STR12## etc.).

Preferred examples of the linkage group are --NHCO--,

--CH₂ --CH₂ --, ##STR13## --CH₂ CH₂ NHCO--, ##STR14## --CONH--CH₂ CH₂ NHCO--, --CH₂ CH₂ O--CH₂ CH₂ --NHCO--, and ##STR15##

When the pyrazoloazoleazomethine dye represented by formula (II) to (VII) described above is a polymer, it may be a copolymer with an ethylenically unsaturated monomer such as styrene, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl methacrylate, acrylic acid, acrylamide, etc.

The non-coloring ethylenically unsaturated monomer for forming a copolymer with the solid water-insoluble monomer, pyrazoloazole can be selected so that the copolymer formed has desired physical and/or chemical properties such as solubility, compatibility with a binder for the dye composition, flexibility, heat-stability, etc.

The polymeric pyrazoloazoleazomethine dye of this invention may be water-soluble or water-insoluble, but is particularly preferably a polymer latex.

Preferred synthesis intermediates for producing the pyrazoloazoleazomethine dyes of this invention shown by formulae (II) to (VII) described above are pyrazoloazoles represented by following formulae (IIA) to (VIIA): ##STR16##

In formulae (IIA) to (VIIA), R₁ and R₆ to R₁₂ have the same meansings as defined above and X represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a group capable of releasing by a coupling reaction with the oxidation product of an aromatic primary amino compound. (With respect to such a group capable of releasing, detailed descriptions can be seen in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,540,,654, column 4, line 30 to column 5, line 24.)

These synthesis intermediates as described above can be produced by the methods disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,061,432, 3,725,067, 4,500,630, and 4,540,,654, Japanese Patent Application (OPI) Nos. 33552/85, 43659/85, and 186567/85.

The pyrazoloazoleazomethine dyes of this invention represented by formulae (II) to (VII) can be produced by oxidative-coupling the synthesis intermediates shown by formulae (IIA) to (VIIA) and an aromatic primary amine represented by formula (VIIIA) ##STR17## wherein R₃ and R₄, which may be the same or different, each represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, which may have a substituent; R₅ represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or an alkyl group, which may have a substituent; and n represents a number of substituents of R₅ which is 1 or 2; when n is 2, said R₅ groups may be the same or different.

The amine represented by formula (VIIIA) described above can be used as a salt with a mineral acid or an organic acid and in this case, the air oxidation can be easily prevented and the dissolution rate of the compound can be improved.

In formula (VIIIA), R₃ and R₄ preferably represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or a substituted alkyl group such as a hydroxyalkyl group, an alkoxyalkyl group, an alkoxyalkoxyalkyl group, and an alkylsulfonamidoalkyl group, and R₅ may represents an alkyl group substituted with an alkoxy group or a halogen atom.

Furthermfore, examples of the alkyl group in the phenylenediamine derivatives shown by formula (VIIIA) described above and the alkyl moiety of the alkoxy group and the substituted alkyl group are lower alkyl groups having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl, t-buty, etc., and higher alkyl groups having from 5 to 18 carbon atoms, such as n-amyl, dl-2-methyl-1-butyl, iso-amyl, sec-amyl, t-amyl, n-hexyl, methylamyl, 2-ethyl-butyl n-heptyl, 2-heptyl, 3-heptyl, n-octyl, 2-octyl, 2-ethylhexyl, n-dodecyl, n-octadecyl, cyclohexyl, etc., which include straight chain, branched or cylic alkyl groups.

Examples of a halogen atom are a chorine atom, a bromine atom, and an iodine atom.

The aromatic primary amine shown by formula (VIIIA), which are used for producing the pyrazoloazoleazomethine dyes of this invention are preferably ortho- or para-phenylenediamines, and more preferably para-phenylene-diamines. Specific examples thereof are those having N-alkyl group, such as;

(D 1) 4-amino-N-ethylaniline,

(D 2) 4-amino-N,N-diethylaniline,

(D 3) 4-amino-3-methyl-N,N-diethylaniline, etc.; those having N-hydroxyalkyl group such as

(D4) 4-amino-N-ethyl-N-(β-hydroxyethyl)aniline,

(D 5) 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-(62-hydroxyethyl)aniline, etc;

those having N-alkoxyalkyl group such as

(D 6) 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ehtyl-(β-methoxyethyl)aniline,

(D 7) 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-methoxybutylaniline,

(D 8) 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-(β-ethoxyethyl)aniline,

(D 9) 4-amino-3-propyl-N-ethyl-N-(β-methoxyethyl)aniline,

(D 10) 4-amino-3-propyl-N-ethyl-N-(β-methoxyethyl)aniline,

(D 11) 4-amino-3-methoxy-N-ethyl-N-(β-methoxyethyl)aniline,

(D 12) 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-(β-butoxyethyl)aniline, etc.;

those having N-alkoxyalkoxyalkyl group such as

(D 13) 4-amino-3-ethyl-N-ethyl-N-[β-(β-methoxyethoxy)ethyl]aniline,

(D 14) 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ehtyl-N-[β-(β-ethoxyethoxy)ethyl]aniline,

(D 15) 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-[β-(β-butoxyethoxy)ethyl]aniline,

(D 16) 4-amino-3-methyl-N-methyl-N-[β-(β-ethoxyethoxy)ethyl]aniline,

(D 17) 4-amino-N-ehtyl-N-[β-(β-methoxyethoxy)ethyl]aniline,

(D 18) 4-amino-N-ehtyl-N-[β-(62-ethoxyethoxy)ethyl]aniline, etc.; and

those having N-alkylsulfonamidoalkyl group such as

(D 19) 4-amino-N-ehtyl-N-(β-methanesulfonamidoethyl)aniline,

(D 20) 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-(β-methanesulfonamidoethyl)aniline,

(D 21) 4-amino-3-chloro-N-ehtyl-N-(β-methanesulfonamidoethyl)aniline,

(D 22) 4-amino-N-ethyl-N-(β-methylsulfonamidoethyl)-3,5-xylidine, etc.

As the salts of the phenylenediamine derivatives, there are inorganic acid salts, i.e., mineral acid salts such as hydrochlorides, sulfat es, nitrates, phosphates, carbonates, and hydrohalogenic acid salts such as hydrochlorides, hydrobromides, hydroiodides, etc., and organic acid salts such as aliphatic carbonylates such as formates, acetates, propionates, etc., aromatic carboxylates such as benzoate naphthalene-α-carboxylates, naphthalene-β-carboxylates, etc., aliphatic sulfonates such as methanesulfonates, etc., and aromatic sulfonates such as naphthalene-α-sulfonates, naphthalene-β-sulfonates, p-toluenesulfonates, etc.

They may be properly selected according to the production conditions for the dyes. For example, in the case of using the salts as photographic color developing agents, it is preferred to use the salts having no adverse influences on the photographic properties. For this purpose, the phenylenediamine derivatives are usually used as the mineral acid salts such as sulfates or aromatic sulfonates such as p-toluenesulfonates, etc.

As the phenylenediamines for use in this invention, the above-described compounds (D 3), (D 5), (D 6), (D 19) and (D 20) are particularly preferred from the view point of providing particularly good hue. Also, as the substituent at the 3-poisiton is useful for controlling the coupling speed, an electron attractive group such as chlorine atom, etc., has a function of increasing the coupling speed, and an electron donative substituent such as methyl group, etc., has a function of delaying the coupling speed.

Preferred examples of the pyrazoloazoleazomethine dyes of this invention are illustrated below but the invention is not limited to these compounds. ##STR18##

The Hammett's substituent constant σ_(p) values of the substituents in the above-described compounds are shown in Table 1 below.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Group                        σ.sub.p                                     ______________________________________                                         SO.sub.2 CH.sub.3            0.72                                              NO.sub.2                     0.78                                              SO.sub.2 CF.sub.3            0.93                                               ##STR19##                   0.70                                               ##STR20##                   -0.15                                             CN                           0.66                                              CF.sub.3                     0.54                                               ##STR21##                   0.30                                              SOCF.sub.3                   0.69                                              N.sup.⊕ (CH.sub.3).sub.3 0.82                                              CH.sub.3                     -0.17                                             CHCHCOOH                     0.90                                              S.sup.⊕ (CH.sub.3).sub.2 0.90                                              ______________________________________                                    

In the pyrazoloazoleasomethine dyes of this invention, as the σ_(p) value of the aforesaid substituent R₁ is at least 0.6 and larger, the dyes have a tendency of shifting to the deep color side. The shifting extent of λ_(max) depends on the kine of the pyrazoloazole skeleton (formula (II) to (VII)) and on the σ_(p) value of the substituent, but is generally in the range of from about 50 n.m. to 100 n.m.

The pyrazoloazoleazomethine dyes shown by formula (II) to (VII) can be synthesized in the co-existence of the pyrazoloazole couplers shown by formula (IIA) to (VIIA) described above, the phenylenediamine shown by formula (VIIIA) described above, and an oxidizing agent. It is considered that in the coupling reaction, the azomethine dye is formed after forming a leuco dye by a nucleophilic attack of a coupler anion to a quinonediimine formed by the oxidation of the phenylenediamine as described in T. H. James, The Theory of the Photographic Process, 4th edition, Chapter 12, (1977, Macmillan). The reaction proceeds under preferably basic conditions and the reaction medium may be an organic solvent, an aqueous organic solvent, or an aqueous solution. When the reaction is proceeded in a basic aqueous solution, the coupler may be an oil drop-in water dispersion and further the dispersion may exist in a hydrophilic colloid medium such as gelatin.

Also, as the oxidizing agent, an organic or inorganic oxidizing agent having an electric potential capable of oxidizing the phenylenediamine can be used and the oxidizing agent may be dissolved in a reaction medium or may be dispersed therein.

When X in formula (II) to (VII) described above is a hydrogen atom, from 0.1 to 10 mols, and preferably from 0.5 to 2 mols of the phenylenediamine represented by formula (VIIIA) is used to one mole of the coupler represented by formula (IIA) to (VIIA) and at least 4 equivalents, and preferably 4.4 to 20 equivalents of oxidizing agent is used. When X is not a hydrogen atom, the dye of formula (II) to (VII) can be synthesized by the same manner as above except that the amount of the oxidizing agent is at least 2 equivalents, and preferably 2.2 to 10 equivalents.

When the reaction is performed in an aqueous medium, the pH is higher than 8, and preferably the coupling reaction is performed in the pH range of from 10 to 12.

As the oxidizing agent, silver halide, hydrogen peroxide, manganese dioxide, potassium persulfate, oxygen, and other compounds described in Fieser and Fieser, Organic Reagents, can be used.

The dyes of this invention can be imagewise formed according to the process of silver halide color photography as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,540,654.

For improving the stability of the dyes of this invention to light or heat, known stabilizers may be used together. Examples of organic compounds capable of improving the stability of the dyes are hydroquinone derivatives described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,935,016 and 3,982,994, hydroquinone diether derivatives described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,216 and Japanese Patent Appliction (OPI) No. 21004/80, phenol derivatives described in Japanese Patent Applciation (OPI) No. 145530/79, spiroindane derivatives and methylenedioxybenzene derivatives described in British Patent Application (OPI) Nos. 2,077,455 and 2,062,888, and Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. 90155/86, chroman derivatives, spirochroman derivatives, and coumaran derivatives described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,764,337, 3,432,300, 3,574,627, and 3,573,050, Japanese Patent Application (OPI) Nos. 152225/77, 20327/78, 17729/78, and 90156/86, hydroquinone monoether derivatives and para-aminophenol derivatives described in Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. 6321/80, British Pat. No. 1,347,556, British Patent Application (OPI) No. 2,066,975, and Japanese Patent Publication No. 12337/79, and bisphenol derivatives described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 31625/73 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,700,455.

For improving the stability of the dyes to light or heat, the use of a metal complex together with the dye is also effective. Examples of such a metal complex are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,245,018 and Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. 97353/85.

Specific examples of the metal complex are illustrated below. ##STR22##

The pyrazoloazoleazomethine dyes of this invention represented by formula (I) described above are useful as magenta dyes or cyan dyes for forming color images. Also, the dyes of this invention are useful as magenta filter dyes or cyan filter dyes for silver halide color photographic materials and also useful as irradiation preventing dyes and antihalation dyes. Furthermore, the dyes of this invention are useful as magenta filter dyes or cyan filter dyes for solid pickup tubes.

The pyrazoloazoleazomethine dyes of this invention have far sharp visible absorption spectra as compared to conventional pyrazoloazoleazomethine dyes and hence give very clear hue. Also, the dyes of this invention have high molecular extinction coefficient and can give a desired optical density with a smaller amount thereof.

The following examples serve to illustrate the present invention in more detail without limiting, however, the scope thereof.

EXAMPLE 1 Synthesis of Compound 4 Synthesis Route ##STR23## Synthesis of Intermediate 1

In a two liter three neck flask equipped with a dropping funnel and a stirrer were placed 116 g (0.79 mol) of chloral (reagent grade), 24 g (0.075 mol) of zinc iodide, and 1 liter of methylene dichloride, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature. Then, the mixture was cooled to a temperature of from 8° C. to 10° C. and 105 ml (0.75 mol) of methylsilylnitrile (reagent grade) was added dropwise to the mixture with stirring over a period of 30 minutes. The color of the mixture gradually changed from pink to brown. Thereafter, after further stirring the mixture for 3 hours at room temperature, insoluble matters were removed by filtration and the filtrate formed was distilled under reduced pressure. The ¹ H NMR spectra (solvent: CCl₄) of the liquid obtained showed δ=0.50 ppm (belonging to Si (CH₃)₃ of Intermediate 1), δ=5.0 ppm (belonging to methine of Intermediate 1), and δ=5.4 ppm (belonging to methylene dichloride). From the NMR integral strength ratio, the content of Intermediate 1 was 69.1% by weight, the amount thereof was 173 g and the yield was 93%. (δ represents a chemical shift value.)

Synthesis of Intermediate 2

In a one liter three neck flask equipped with a reflux condensor and a stirrer was placed 170 g (0.69 mol) of Intermediate 1 containing 76 g of methylene dichloride and after adding thereto 354 ml of acetic anhydride, the resultant mixture was heated to 125° to 130° C. for 9 hours with stirring. After cooling the mixture to room temperature, insoluble matters were filtered away, and the filtrate was distilled under reduced pressure. The residue thus formed was subjected to column chromatography using silica gel as a solid phase and chloroform as a moving phase, and the filtrate obtained was distilled under reduced pressure. Then, volatile matters were further distilled off at 100° C. using a vacuum pump. The ¹ H-NMR spectra (solvent: CCl₄) of the liquid product thus obtained showed δ=2.1 ppm (belonging to acetic anhydride), δ=2.3 ppm (belonging to -OAc of intermediate 2), and δ=6.0 ppm (belonging to methine of Intermediate 2). From the integral strength ratio of the NMR, the content of Intermediate 2 was 95.6% by weight, the amount thereof was 98.1 g, and yield was 66%.

Synthesis of Intermediate 3

In a two liter three neck flask equipped with a reflux condenser and a stirrer was placed 98.1 g (0.45 mol) of Intermediate 2 containing 4.5 g of acetic anhydride and after adding thereto 400 ml of tetrahydrofuran, the mixture was heat-refluxed with stirring. Then, 32.5 g of zinc powder previously treated with hydrochloric acid was gradually added to the mixture with care. Thereafter, the mixture was heat-refluxed with stirring for 30 minutes and then distilled under reduced pressure. After removing 140 ml of the initial fraction, the residue was distilled at one stroke. The ¹ H NMR spectra (solvent: CCl₄) of the liquid product thus obtained showed δ=1.8 ppm (belonging to tetrahydrofuran), δ=3.6 ppm (belonging to tetrahydrofuran), and δ=6.1 ppm (belonging to intermediate 3). From the integral strength ratio of the NMR, the content of Intermediate 3 was 20.9% by weight, the amount thereof was 36.6 g and the yield was 66%.

Synthesis of Intermediate 4

In a one liter three neck flask equipped with a stirrer were placed 25.8 g of sodium hydroxide and 150 ml of distilled water followed by stirring to dissolve sodium hydroxide. Then 69.6 g (0.60 mol) of thiophenol was dissolved in the solution with stirring and the solution obtained was ice-cooled, whereby the solution separated into two layers with white turbidity. While stirring the solution under ice-cooling 36.6 g (0.30 mol) of Intermediate 3 containing 138.5 g of tetrahydrofuran was added dropwise to the solution over a period of 30 minutes. Thereafter, the mixture was stirred for 6 hours at room temperature and allowed to stand overnight, whereby the solution separated into two layers. The lower layer was removed, the upper layer was placed in a separation funnel, and after adding thereto ethyl acetate and washing with an saturated aqueous solution of sodium chloride, the solution in the funnel was dried by Glauber's salt and distilled under reduced pressure. The residue was applied to column chromatography using silica gel as fixed phase and a mixture of ethyl acetate and n-hexane (1/10 by volume: the same hereinafter) as moving phase to provide 77.0 g (yield 95%) of oily Intermediate 4. The ¹ H-NMR spectra (solvent: CCl₄) of the product showed δ=7.3 ppm.

Synthesis of Intermediate 5

In a 500 milliliter three neck flask equipped with a reflux condenser and a stirrer was placed 77.0 g (0.285 mol) of Intermediate 4 and 173 ml of hydrazine hydrate and then the mixture was refluxed (inside temperature 110° to 115° C.) with heating--refluxing and stirring for 4 hours. In this case, the system was initially in two layers, but became one layer after reaction. After allowing to stand overnight, the reaction mixture was placed in a separation funnel, added with ethyl acetate, washed with a saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution containing 0.3N sodium hydroxide, dried by Glauber's salt, and then purified by column chromatography using silica gel as fixed phase and a mixture of methanol and chloroform (1/5) as moving phase. Thus, 21.1 g (yield 39%) of light yellow oily Intermediate 5 was obtained.

The ¹ H-NMR spectra (Solvent: (CD₃)₂ CO, D: heavy hydrogenated acetone) of the product showed δ=3.3 ppm, δ=5.6 ppm, δ=5.9 ppm, and δ=7.2 ppm.

Synthesis of Intermediate 7

In a 300 milliliter three neck flask equipped with a reflux condenser and a stirrer were placed 21.1 g (0.11 mol) of Intermediate 5, 200 ml of methanol and 37.3 g (0.13 mol) of Intermediate 6 prepared according to the method described in Japanese patent application (OPI) No. 171956/84 and then the mixture was stirred for 4 hours at room temperature. In this case, it was confirmed by thin layer chromatography that Intermediate 5 vanished. Thereafter, a solution of 115 g of hydroxylamine hydrochloride and 13.5 g of sodium acetate dissolved in 50 ml of distilled water was added to the reaction mixture and the resultant mixture was heat-refluxed with stirring for 45 minutes. After cooling the mixture to room temperature, insoluble matters were filtered out, and the filtrate formed was distilled under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate and the solution was washed with an aqueous 0.1N sodium hydroxide solution, dried by Glauber's salt, and purified by column chromatography using silica gel as fixed phase and a mixture of ethyl acetate and benzene (1/1) as moving phase. Thus, 30.5 g (yield 66%) of light yellow oily Intermediate 7 was obtained.

Synthesis of Intermediate 8

In a 300 milliliter three neck flask equipped with a reflux condenser and a stirrer were placed 30.5 g (0.072 mol) of Intermediate 7, 50 ml of acetonitrile, 14.1 g of p-toluenesulfonyl chloride, and 5.9 ml of pyridine and the mixture was stirred for one hour under room temperature. The disappearance of the Intermediate 7 by the reaction was confirmed by thin layer chromatography. Thereafter, 110 ml of methanol and 5.9 ml of pyridine were added thereto and the resultant mixture was heat-refluxed with stirring for 2 hours. After adding thereto ethyl acetate, the mixture was washed with a saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution and supplied to column chromatography using silica gel as fixed phase and a mixture of ethyl acetate and benzene (1/1) as moving phase to concentrate the product, after then it was crystallized by the addition of n-hexane. Crystals thus formed were filtered and dried to provide 6.6 g (yield 23%) of white crystals of Intermediate 8 having melting point of from 224° C. to 226° C. The mass spectrum thereof showed a parent peak: m/e=403.

Synthesis of Intermediate 9

In a 300 milliliter three neck flask equipped with a reflux condenser and a stirrer were placed 6.6 g (16.4 mmol) of Intermediate 8 and 100 ml of ethanol to form a suspension. While heat-refluxing the suspension with stirring, 0.10 g of NaWO₄ ·H₂ O and 13.5 ml of an aqueous 35% hydrogen peroxide solution was added thereto and the mixture was further heat-refluxed with stirring for 2 hours. Then, the completion of the reaction was confirmed by thin layer chromatography. The reaction mixture was ice-cooled and crystals thus formed were collected by filteration, washed with ethanol, and then dried to provide 6.0 g (yield 84%) of the white crystals of Intermediate 9 having a melting point of 250° to 252° C. Mass spectral parent peak: m/e=435.

Synthesis of Intermediate 10

In a 300 milliliter three neck flask equipped with a reflux condenser and a stirrer were placed 6.0 g (14 mmol) of Intermediate 9 and 100 ml of isopropyl alcohol and while heat-refluxing the mixture (suspension) with stirring, 1.0 g of hydrazine hydrate was added dropwise to the suspension. Thereafter, the mixture was heat-refluxed with stirring for 3 hours. The mixture was in the suspension state but the completion of the reaction was confirmed by thin layer chromatography. The reaction mixture was distilled under reduced pressure to remove the solvent, to form 6.6 g of solids. It was assumed that 4.2 g thereof was Intermediate 10 and 2.2 g thereof was phthalhydrazide.

Synthesis of Intermediate 12

In a 200 milliliter three neck flask equipped with a stirrer were placed 6.6 g of all of the aforesaid reaction mixture (i.e., Intermediate 10 and phthalhydrazide), 50 ml of N,N-dimethylacetamide, and 40 ml of tetrahydrofuran and the reaction mixture was dissolved in the solvent mixture. Then, 9.7 g (14 mmol) of Intermediate 11 prepared by an ordinary manner was added to the solution with stirring at room temperature and further a solution of 1.9 ml of triethylamine dissolved in 10 ml of tetrahydrofuran was added dropwise to the mixture over a period of 10 minutes. The resultant mixture was stirred for 30 minutes at room temperature. In this case, the disappearance of raw material of Intermediate 11 was confirmed by thin layer chromatography, but since raw material of Intermediate 10 remained, 1.9 g of Intermediate 11 and 0.4 ml of triethylamine were additionally added to the mixture. The resultant mixture was stirred for 2 hours at room temperature and the disappearance of Intermediate 10 was confirmed by thin layer chromatography. Then, after adding ethyl acetate, the reaction mixture was washed with a saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution of diluted hydrochloric acid, insoluble matter (presumed to be phthalhydrazide) was filtered away and the filtrate thus formed was purified by column chromatography using silica gel as fixed phase and a mixture of ethyl acetate and chloroform (1/5) as moving phase to provide 7.7 g (yield 57% based on Intermediate 9) of the white crystals of Intermediate 12. The melting point thereof was from 87° C. to 94° C.

    ______________________________________                                         Elemental Analysis                                                                           H           C       N                                            ______________________________________                                         Found         7.48%       60.58%  8.60%                                        Calculated    7.49%       60.72%  8.67%                                        ______________________________________                                    

Mass spectrum parent peak: m/e=969=(M+H)⁺.

Synthesis of Compound 1

In a 300 milliliter three neck flask equipped with a stirrer were placed 2.5 g (2.6 mmol) of Intermediate 12, 65 ml of chloroform, and 50 ml of distilled water and while stirring the mixture at room temperature, 3.75 g of sodium carbonate, 0.81 g of mono-sulfate of 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-(β-methylsulfonamidoethyl)aniline (D20 described above as specific example of aromatic primary amine), and 1.65 g of ammonium persulfate were successively added to the mixture. The reaction mixture was colored in blue to blue-green. After stirring the mixture for one hour at room temperature, the upper layer (aqueous layer) thus formed was removed by decantation, and the lower layer was washed well with an aqueous dilute acetic acid solution, purified by column chromatography using silica gel as fixed phase and a mixture of methanol and chloroform (1/100) as moving phase, and further purified again by column chromatography using silica gel as fixed phase and a mixture of ethyl acetate and chloroform (2/5) as moving phase. After subjecting the product to distillation under reduced pressure to dryness, the product was further dried for 10 hours using a vacuum pump to provide 42.4 g (yield 75%) of amorphous Compound 1.

    ______________________________________                                         Elemental Analysis                                                                           H           C       N                                            ______________________________________                                         Found         7.35%       59.24%  10.19%                                       Calculated    7.25%       59.04%  10.13%                                       ______________________________________                                    

Mass spectrum parent peak: m/e=1235=(M+H)⁺.

EXAMPLE 2 Comparison of Visible Absorption Spectra

In a 100 milliliter measuring flask was placed 2.00 mg of Compound 1 (molecular weight=1236.71) and after adding thereto ethyl acetate (high quality reagent) to dissolve the compound at room temperature, ethyl acetate was added up to the marked line. After light shaking the solution to form a homogeneous solution, the solution was placed in a quartz cell of 1 cm in thickness and the visible absorption spectrum thereof was measured by means of a ultraviolet visible ray spectrophotometer made by Shimazu Corporation.

Similarly, 3.00 mg of Comparison Compound A (molecular weight=1110.56) shown below described in Japanese patent application (OPI) No. 186567/85 was dissolved in ethyl acetate and the visible absorption spectra was measured by the same manner as above.

Comparison Compound A: ##STR24##

The visible absorption spectra of the both are shown in FIG. 1 so standardized that the maximum absorption intensity becomes 1. The solid line shows the visible absorption spectra of Compound 1 of this invention and the dotted line shows that of Comparison Compound A.

As is clear from FIG. 1, it can be seen that Compound 1 of this invention gives sharper absorption spectrum than Comparison Example A, and the hue of the former is far superior than the latter. Also, it can be seen that the maximum absorption of the compound of this invention is shifted to deep color side. That is, while Comparison Compound A shows magenta color, Compound 1 of this invention shows cyan color.

Furthermore, from the maximum absorption intensity and the mol density of each compound, the molecular extinction coefficient ε is calculated. These values are shown in Table 2.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                                                             Molecular                                                               Maxi-  Extinction                                 Mole-               Concen-  mum    Coefficient ε                      cular      Amount   tration  Absorp.                                                                               (l · mol.sup.-1 ·        Weight     (mg)     (mol/l)  Intensity                                                                             cm.sup.-1)                                 ______________________________________                                         Com-   1236.71 2.00     1.62 ×                                                                          1.438  8.89 × 10.sup.4                    pound 1                 10.sup.-5                                              of this                                                                        Invention                                                                      Compari-                                                                              1110.56 2.00     1.81 ×                                                                          1.005  5.58 × 10.sup.4                    son                     10.sup.-5                                              Com-                                                                           pound A                                                                        ______________________________________                                    

From the results shown in the above table, it can be seen that Compound 1 of this invention has a significantly higher molecular extinction coefficient as compared to Comparison Compound A, and hence Compound 1 of this invention provides a desired optical density by a smaller amount thereof.

From the above-described results, it can be seen that when a particularly strong electron attractive group (the σp value of benzenesulfonyl group which is a substituent of Compound 1 of this invention is 0.70, while the σp value of the methyl group which is the substituent at the 6-position of Comparison Compound A is -0.17) is introduced to the substituent of the pyrazoloazole skeleton of the pyrazoloazoleazomethine dye, the maximum absorption wavelength is greatly shifted to a deep color side, the absorption thereof becomes sharper to make the hue clearer, and the molecular extinction coefficient becomes significantly larger.

EXAMPLE 3 Synthesis of Compound 2

By following the same synthesis route as in Example 1 using Intermediate 3 and trifluoromethane thiol, amorphous Compound 2 was obtained.

    ______________________________________                                         Elemental                                                                      Analysis H       C       N     F     Cl    S                                   ______________________________________                                         Found    6.53%   53.47%  8.33% 5.50% 3.45% 9.61%                               Calculated                                                                              6.68%   53.08%  8.44% 5.72% 3.56% 9.66%                               ______________________________________                                    

Mass spectrum parent peak: m/e=995=(M+H)⁺.

EXAMPLE 4 Comparison with Cyan Dye Formed from Known Cyan Coupler

By following the same procedure as in Example 1, cyan dyes (indoaniline dyes) D-3 and D-4 were prepared from cyan couplers C-3 disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,772,002 and C-4 disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,635, respectively, shown below. ##STR25##

In the same manner as shown in Example 2, the visible absorption spectrum and the molecular extinction coefficient of each dye thus formed were measured, and they were compared with those of Compound 1 of this invention. The visible absorption spectra of these dyes are shown in FIG. 2, wherein the visible absorption spectrum of the Compound 1 of this invention is shown by solid line. As shown in FIG. 2, it can be seen that the absorption spectrum shown by Compound 1 of this invention is much sharper than comparison dyes D-3 and D-4, and that Compound 1 scarcely has an absorption in a blue region of from 400 n.m. to 500 n.m., hence, the hue of the dye of this invention is very clear cyan color in spite of the fact that the maximum absorption wavelength of Compound 1 of this invention is shorter than those of comparison dyes D-3 and D-4.

The data relating to the molecular extinction coefficients of these dyes are shown in Table 3.

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                                                             Molecular                                                               Maxi-  Extinction                                 Mole-               Concen-  mum    Coefficient ε                      cular      Amount   tration  Absorp.                                                                               (l · mol.sup.-1 ·        Weight     (mg)     (mol/l)  Intensity                                                                             cm.sup.-1)                                 ______________________________________                                         Com-   1236.71 2.00     1.62 ×                                                                          1.438  8.89 × 10.sup.4                    pound 1                 10.sup.-5                                              of this                                                                        Invention                                                                      Compari-                                                                              741.42  2.00     2.70 ×                                                                          0.661  2.45 × 10.sup.4                    son Dye                 10.sup.-5                                              D-3                                                                            Compari-                                                                              852.91  2.00     2.34 ×                                                                          0.551  2.35 × 10.sup.4                    son Dye                 10.sup.-5                                              D-4                                                                            ______________________________________                                    

From the results shown in Table 3, it can be seen that Compound 1 of this invention gives a significantly higher molecular extinction coefficient as compared to comparison dyes D-3 and D-4.

From the results described above, it can be seen that the image-forming cyan dyes formed from the cyan coupler of this invention gives very sharp absorption spectrum as compared with cyan dyes formed from conventional phenolic cyan couplers and hence gives a clear cyan hue as well as showing a very high molecular extinction coefficient. Thereby, a desired optical density can be obtained with a very small amount of the dye.

While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A pyrazoloazoleazomethine dye represented by formula (I) ##STR26## wherein, said dye is a blue or cyan dye having a maximum absorption wavelength of more than 600 nm, R₁ represents a substituent having a Hammett's substituent constant value of at least 0.6; Za represents ═N--; and Zb and Zc each represents ═N-- and ##STR27## respectively, or Zb and Zc each represents ##STR28## and ═N--, respectively (wherein R₂ represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent), R₃, R₄ and R₅ each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; and n represents 1 or 2; and dimers thereof formed by combining two of said dye with each other through a divalent group at R₁, Za, Zb, or Zc and polymers thereof formed by combining at least three of said dye with each other through a divalent group at R₁, Za, Zb, or Zc.
 2. A pyrazoloazoleazomethine dye as in claim 1, wherein the substituent represented by R₁ is a group selected from the group consisting of a cyano group, a nitro group, a trialkylammonium group, a triarylammonium group, a dialkylsulfonium group, a diarylsulfonium group, a perfluoroalkylsulfinyl group, an ω-hydroperfluoroalkylsulfinyl group, an alkanesulfonyl group, an arylsulfonyl group, a β-carboxyvinyl group, and a β,β-dicyanovinyl group.
 3. A pyrazoloazoleazomethine dye as in claim 1, wherein R₁ in formula (I) is a group selected from the group consisting of a cyano group, a β-carboxyvinyl group, a nitro group, a trimethylammonium group, a trifluoromethanesulfinyl group, a trifluoromethanesulfonyl group, a difluoromethanesulfonyl group, a methanesulfonyl group, a dichloromethanesulfonyl group, a pentafluoroethanesulfonyl group, a dimethylsulfonium group, a benzenesulfonyl group, and a β,β-dicyanovinyl group.
 4. A pyrazoloazoleazomethine dye as in claim 1, wherein R₃ and R₄ each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, and R₅ represents a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group.
 5. A pyrazoloazoleazomethine dye as in claim 1, wherein R₅ and ##STR29## are at the o- and p-position of the benzene ring, respectively.
 6. A pyrazoloazoleazomethine dye as in claim 1, wherein the dye is represented by formula (IV) or (V) ##STR30## wherein G represents a structural moiety represented by formula (VIII) ##STR31## (wherein R₃, R₄, R₅, and n have the same meanings as defined for formula (I));R₁ has the same meaning as defined for formula (I); and R₁₀ and R₁₁ each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; and dimers thereof formed by combining two of said dye with each other through a divalent group at R₁, R₁₀ or R₁₁ and polymers thereof formed by combining at least three of said dye with each other through a divalent group at R₁, R₁₀ or R₁₁.
 7. A pyrazoloazoleazomethine dye as in claim 6, wherein said (substituent represented by) R₁₀, represents a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, a cyano group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an acylamino group, an anilino group, a ureido group, a sulfamoylamino group, an alkylthio group, an arylthio group, an alkoxycarbonylamino group, a sulfonamido group, a carbamoyl group, a sulfamoyl group, a sulfonyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a heterocyclic oxy group, an acyloxy group, a carbomoyloxy group, a silyloxy group, an aryloxycarbonylamino group, an imido group, a heterocyclic thio group, a sulfinyl group, a phosphonyl group, an aryloxycarbonyl group, or an acyl group.
 8. A pyrazoloazoleazomethine dye as in claim 1, wherein the substituent for the alkyl group represented by R₃ or R₄ is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an alkoxyalkoxy group and an alkylsulfonamido group.
 9. A pyrazoloazoleazomethine dye as in claim 1, wherein the substituent for the alkyl group represented by R₅ is selected from the group consisting of an alkoxy group, and a halogen atom.
 10. A pyrazoloazoleazomethine dye as claimed in claim 1, wherein R₁ is a group other than a cyano group, an unsubstituted alkanesulfonyl group, an unsubstituted arylsulfonyl group, an unsubstituted alkanesulfinyl group, an unsubstituted arylsulfinyl group and a phosphonyl group.
 11. A pyrazoloazoleazomethine dye as claimed in claim 1, wherein R₁ is a group selected from the group consisting of a nitro group, a trialkylammonium group, a triarylammonium group, a dialkylsulfonium group, a diarylsulfonium group, a β-carboxyvinyl group and a β,β-dicyanovinyl group.
 12. A pyrazoloazoleazomethine dye as in claim 6, wherein the dye is represented by the formula (IV). 